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| Photo by David W. Smith/Daily News The dance group Divine Unity from Seventh Street Baptist Church performs Sunday at the 11th annual TrailBlazers awards at State Street Baptist Church. The members of the group are Ashley Page (from left), Toynika Bailey and Kristen Carr. |
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Seven prominent members of the African-American community were recognized for their contributions Sunday afternoon at the 11th annual TrailBlazers awards, held this year at State Street Baptist Church.
The awards are given to African-Americans who “opened doors, paved the way” to success for many more, said longtime TrailBlazers committee member Maxine Ray. The history and importance of the local African-American community is unknown to many, and needs to be preserved and passed on as an example for youth, she said.
Honored Sunday were:
Walker praised the TrailBlazers committee not only for selecting her, but for its efforts to identify significant members of the community.
“It’s a darned good committee,” she said. “I had no idea they would pick me.”
Graham said he was left “almost speechless” by the announcement.
“It really is a big honor,” he said. “You don’t realize that people are noticing the things that you do.”
With all honorees watching from the front row, their accomplishments were read out by committee members as church youth group members acted in progressively more comic skits, imagining scenes from the TrailBlazers’ lives and careers.
Attendees in the full sanctuary watched portrayals of Walker’s shoeshine parlor and Hatchett at The Medical Center, on through diners at the Brickyard Cafe discussing Bolling and Graham.
The ceremony also featured performances by the Eleventh Street Baptist Church dance team, the Brotherhood five-member chorus and Divine Unity spiritual dance team.
TrailBlazers committee chairman Abraham Williams gave out two special awards. One went to Gambia Flemister, a Bowling Green High School teacher who started as a young mother in Housing Authority of Bowling Green Programs, took teacher training, and now oversees the housing authority’s highly successful summer program for struggling students.
The other went to U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., for his participation in every year’s TrailBlazers ceremony.
This year Guthrie presented all seven honorees with certificates of special recognition from the U.S. Congress. Likewise, newly elected State Sen. Mike Reynolds, D-Bowling Green, read out a Kentucky State Senate proclamation, while Mayor Elaine Walker gave a similar joint city-county proclamation honoring the award winners.
